Cross-arm clamp



July 23, 1929. c, COON CROSS ARM CLAMP z sheets-smi Filed June 20, 1927 .lill

July 23, 1929. c. c. cooN CROSS ARM CLAMP Filed June 20. 1927 2 sheets-sheet `2 I N VEN TOR.

ZV i

I ATTORNEY Patented July 23, 1929.

Y unirse sra'rss CHESTER C. COOH', OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

(moss-ARM CLAMP.

Application filed June 20,

My invention relates to such tools as are adapted to be used in connection with work required on high-voltage transmission lines, and it refers especially to a tool orn this character, which is adapted to be clamped to a cross arm for assisting linemen in changing pin-type insulators or in installing new insu lators of this type on the cross arm.

The main obj ect of my invention is to provide a tool of this character, which is adapted to hold securely and in adjustable relation to the cross arm, while clamped thereto, a wireengaging member, such as is known as a pigtail stick, so that a linemanis thereby enabled to support a wire and at the same time to change or install insulators on the crossl arm with a minimum of hazard and without interrupting the service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character, which may be easily and quickly secured in the required positionl on a cross arm and may be easily and quickly removed therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tool of this character, which is simple in construction and operation and may be manufactured cheaply so as to be sold at a low price.

Other objects and advantages will appear trom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood .that l reserve the right to make such changes and modiiications in the form shown as come within the scope of the appended claims.

ln the drawings :-y

Figure 1 is a side elevation oi a cross-arm clamp secured to a cross arm, shown sectionally, the clamp being shown as adjusted for securingbetween the jaws thereof amember, which holds therein a portion of Va line' j j I the extension 17, another extension 20, joined wire' Figure 2 is an end elevation of the crossarm clamp, as viewed from the right of Fig ure 1, only a portion of the cross arm being shown, and the wire-engaging member being removed from the jaws in order to disclose otherwise hidden parts;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken in'a plane Y indicated by the line 3 8 in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a broken end elevation ofthe cross-arm clamp, similar to Figure 2, but showing the frame swung to an angular position relative to the supporting member et the clamp. Y

1927, serial No. 200,020.

In the preferred embodiment of my yinvent1on, the cross-arm clamp 1 comprises a supporting member 2, which is formed by side members 3 and 4, veach preferably having' a part thereof in the shape'of a rightangled isosceles triangle, on which an outer eXtension 5 is formed'integral with one cathetus 6, while another outer extension 7, substantially parallel with the extension 5, is formed at the junction of the other cathetus 8 with the hypothenuse 9, the extensions 7 being at j their ends joined to a beam 10, provided with an edge 11, which is adapted to engage theY upper side of a cross arm 12.v ln a similar manner the ends of the extensions 5 are joined by a beam 13, and approximately centrally therein, so as to registerwith the edge 11, is-'a threaded opening in which is screwed a stud 14, secured by any'suitable means at one end or a handle 15, which preferably is of woodr or some other suitable insulating material. At its free end vthe stud is pointed, as shown at 16, for the purpose of engaging the underside'of vthe cross arm 12, so that, when the supporting member is in its clamping position upon thefcross arm, a person, by turning the handle 15, may torce the point of the stud into the cross arm and thus, while the edge'll is suiiicient forgpreventing-.a movement lengthwise of the crossarm, the stud 14 assures the clampingofthe device 1, not only removably, but-also in a non-slip` ping relation, to thev cross arm'.

Each of the side members 3 and 4 has at one end thereon an extension 17, joined to the cathetus 6 and aligned with the cathetus 8,

and a strut 18 ispreierably also made integral with the extension 17 and the cathetus. 6 in order to strengthen the supporting member 2. At their ends, these extensions'l? are joined by a plate 19,4 and each of the side members 3, and 4 has aty its end, opposite to tothe cathetuso and at its initial portion preferably aligned` with the hypothenuse 97 vbut having its terminal portion virtually parallel with the extension 17. A plate 2 is suitably -joined to theeXtensions 20 and conforms thereto so thatits terminal portion is virtually parallel with the plate 19, and a frame 22, which consists of spaced base mem-- vbers 23 and 24 having end members 25 and 26 respectively liXed thereto, fits with.` the end members on the respectiveplates 19 and 2l and is pivotally securedthereto by suit# able and axially aligned pivotal means 27 and 28 so that the frame is thereby allowed to swing sidewise of the supporting member 2.

In order to secure a wire-engaging member 29, which in Figure l is illustrated as being ol the type known as a pig-tail stick, to the frame 22, jaws 30 and 31 are provided, the inner Afaces of which are adapted to iit the handle 32 of the wire-engaging member, thisl handle Y preferably being of wood or some other suitable, insulating material, so as to enable a lineman to hold a line wire 33 in the hook portion 34 of the wire-engaging member with safety and without shutting off the electric current. The outer jaw 31 is preferably formed with acurved outer 'ace adapted to be engaged by the curve-d portion 35 of a yoke 36 having virtually parallel bars 37, which extend from the curved portion through respective registering openings in the jaws and in the end member 26 and also through respective registering openings in a plate 38, arranged transversely to the frame, and the bars have screwed thereon at their ends nuts 33', so that the yoke is in a reciprocative relation to the frame 22 and that `the plate and the outer jaw 31 are adapted to tollow the respective movements of the yoke, while the inner aw 30 is adapted to reciprocate upon the bars 37 thereof, the positioning of the yoke being preferably in a plane, transverse, and substantially at right angles, to the frame, as shown in Fig. l.

A clevis 39, comprisingside members 40 vbent at right angles to an end member 4l, is

connected with the plate 38, the members 40 being virtually parallellwith the bars 37 of the yoke 36 and with the base members 23 and 24v oft-he trame 22. In this instance, the connecting mean's'for the clevis is shown as a stud 42, provided with a shouldered-portion slidably extending through an opening in the end member 25 of the trame, and with al reduced portion extending through an opening in the member 41 of the clevis, the reduced end of the stud 42 being threaded and having a nut 43 Vscrewed thereon, so that the member 41 of the clevis is pressed against th-e plate 38, and the latter is pressed against the shouldered portion of the stud 42, and the clevis andthe plate are thereby fixed to keach other and movable together. At the outer end of its shouldered portion, the stud 42 is provided with a head 44, adapted to abut against the outer Lface of the en'd'member25 in order to limit the inward movement of the plate 38 and theclevis 39 from the end member,

otallyv secured thereto by a pin 47. At its other end the rod 45 has a similar bearing member 48, which lits between the corresponding ends of duplicate side members 49 of a v Y lever 50 and is pivotally secured thereto by a pin 51. The other corresponding ends of the side i iembers 49 of the' lever are pivotally secured by any suitable means, such as a pin 52, to and between ears 53, formed correspondlingly on the base members 23 and 24 at their junction with the end member 26 of the frame 22, and a block 54may be provided on the pin 52 for holding the side members 49 in a correct spaced relation to each other and for maintaining a sufficient side play for the lever 50 so as to allow the lever to swing freely within the frame;

Between the side members49 ofthe lever 50 and at a suitable intermediate portion thereQ is a block 55, which is internally threaded and at its side provided with trunnions 56, rotatably extending through registering openings in the side members 49, so that the block iS tnrnable within the lever56. A stud 57 ris at one end provided with a screw-threaded portion 53, engaging the block 55, and with an intermediate, shouldered portion 59 and has at its other end an unthrea'ded cylindrical portion 60 fitted in a erruled portion 6l at vone end of a handle 62, which is preferably made ot wood or some other suitable insulating material, and the stud is secured to the errule by any suitable means, such as a cotter pin 63, in order that the stud and the handle may be easily attached to, or removed from, each other. Upon the unthreaded portion 60v is slidably fitted a block 64,which is at its si-d'e provided with trunnions 65, rotatably extending through registerlng openings in the respective base members 23 and 240i the I trame 22, and, preferably,'a collar 66 is also slipped upon the unthreaded portion 60 between the block 55 and the end of the errule 6l,V so that, while a free turning movement is allowed the handle 62, an unnecessary end play of the stud is prevented and thus makes the lever 50 immediately responsive to every member 2. In the plate are also formed holesl 68, which are spaced from one another and are arranged in a circle concentric with the pivot 28, and the innerjaw 30 has thereon a pair of dowel pins 69 in parallel relation to the bars 37 and slidably extending through holes, which are formed in the. end vmember 26 of the frame 22 and are adapted to register with the respective holes 68, so that the dowel pins may slidably engage the holes 68 in selected positions land thus lock the frame`22 in various angular positions relative to the supporting member 2` Another pair of dowel pins 7 0 is preferably also'provided on the inner aw 30 so as to extendv slidably through respective openings in the end member 26 of the frame 22, and preferably arranged around the bars 87 and between the end member 28 and the jaw are respective coil springs 71, by which the jaw is normally urged away from the end member, and the dowel pins 69 are caused to be normally out of engagement with the holes 68 in the plate 2l. The jaw 80 has threaded thereinto a bolt 72, which with its shank extends slidably through an opening in the end member' 26. Upon this bolt is screwed al nut 73, which serves tov limit the movement of the jaw toward the end member, while the head 74 of the bolt limits the movement of the j aw`away from the end member so that the dowel pins 69 and 70 `can not become disengaged from the end member when the jaw is moved outward from the frame 22. Y

Preferably on the hypothenuse 9 of the side member 43 of the supporting member 2 and at the junction of the hypothenuse with the extension 7, the supporting member is provided with a hook 7 5. A lineman is thereby enabled to suspend the cross-arm clamp l on a line wire 83 or other support, when he is working with other tools, and to conveniently reach the crossarm clamp, when `he again is in need thereof. f Y

Y If the end portion 58 of the stud 57 is provided with a right-hand thread, as shown in Figure l, a turning of the handle 62 in the direction indicated by thecurved arrow in Figure 8 will result in moving the block 55 toward the shouldered portion 59. rIhus, if the handle 32 of the wire-engaging member 29 is inserted between the jaws 80 and 3l, such a turning movement by the connection of the outer jaw 8l with the yoke 86 and by the connection of the latter rwith the lever 50and the plate 38, will result in forcing the jaw 3l toward the inner jaw 30 against the pressure of the springs 7l. It being assumed.

that the cross-arm clamp l is secured to the cross arm 12 by the pointed stud 14 on the handle l5 and the edge 1l on the beam 10, as before described, the lineman-before the engagement of the dowel pins 69 with the respective holes 68 in the plate2l occurs-by taking hold of the ,handle 82 of the wireengaging member, can adjust the latter to the most suitable angular position for holding the line wire 33 in the hook portion 34 thereof.

l/Vhen the dowel pins 69 are in registering positions with the respective holes 68 for eifecting the desired angular position of the frame 22 relative to the supporting member 2, as suggested in Figure 4, he simply cone tinues to turn the handle 62 until the nut 7 3 abuts against the plate 2l and the jaws are thereby prevented from a farther inward movement toward the end member 26 of the frame 22, thus securlyvholding the wire-engaging member 29 in its required position to the frame simultaneously with theloclring of the frame in the required angular position to the supporting member without necessitatcurved arrow in Figure l8, the head 74 of the bolt 7 2 then limiting the outward movement of the inner jaw 30,v and the head 44 on the. stud 42, by its abutment against the end mem'- ber 25, limiting the outward movement of the yoke 86 and thus preventing the dowel pins 69 and 70 from sliding out of engagement` with the end' member 26. 'i

I claim as my invention:

l. A cross-arm clampv of the character described, comprising a supporting member;` means for removably clamping themember tothe cross arm; means pivotally secured to the supporting member so as to be swingable to various angular positions for removably securing a wire-engaging memberI to the sup-- porting member; means for holding the wireengaging member in various angular positions relative to the supporting member; and means for locking the wire-engaging member in any of the angular positions.

2. A cross-arm clamp of the character described. comprising asupporting member; means -for removably clamping the member to the cross arm; a frame pivotally secured to the supporting member so as to be adapted to be swung to various angular positions relative to the supporting member; means for removably securing a wire-engaging memberv to the frame; and means for` locking the frame in any of the angular positions.

8. A cross-arm clamp of the `character described, comprising a supporting member;

Vmeans for removably clamping the member to the cross arm; a frame pivotally secured to the supporting member so as to be adapted to be swung to various angular positions relative to the supporting member; means for removably securing a wire-engaging member to the frame; and means for locking the frame in any of the angular positions simultaneously with the securing of the wire-engaging member to the frame. v

i 4. In a cross-arm clamp of the character described, a frame adapted to be removably clamped to the cross arm; a pair of jaws secured to the frame so as to allow one jaw to reciprocate in order to adapt the jaws to hold a wire-engaging member therebetween; and means for reciprocating the reciprocal jaw so as to allow the wire-engaging member to be slid to any desired position between the jaws and to be iirmly secured by them to the frame, or to allow the wire-engaging member to be released from its engagement with the jaws.

iso

5. In a cross-arm lclamp of the character provided with an extension at each end;

described, a frame adapted to be removably clamped to the cross arm; a pair of jaws secured to the frame so as to allow one jaw to reciprocate in order to adapt the aws to hold a wire-engaging .member therebetween; a lever pivotally connected with the frame and pivotally connected with the reciprocal jaw; and a handle having a pivotal and screwthreaded connection with the lever and a pivotal and screw-threaded connection with the frame, so that, by the turning of the handle, the reciprocal aw may be moved so as to allow theiwire-engaging member to be slid to any desired po; ion between the jaws and to be firmly secured by them to the frame, or to allow the wire-engaging member to be released from its engagement with the jaws.

G. In a cross-arm clamp oi the character described, a frame adapted to be movably clamped to the cross arm; a pair of jaws secured to the iframe so as to allow one jaw to reciprocate in order to adapt the jaws to hold a wire-engaging member therebetween; means for reciprocating the reciprocal jaw as to allow the wire-engaging member to be slid to any desired position between the jaws and to be firmly secured by them to the frame, or to allow the wire-engaging` member to be released from its engagement with the jaws; and means tor'limiting` the movement of the reciprocal jaw away trom the other jaw. Y

'KA cross-arm clamp of the character described, comprising a supported member provided with an extension at eachend; means for removably clamping the member to the cross arm; a frame pivotally secured to the 'extensions so as to be adapted to be swung Lto'variousangular positions relative to the supporting member; means for removably securing a wire-engaging member t-o the frame; and .means connected with the securing means and adapted to engage one of the extensions so asto lock the frame in any of the angular positions when the securing means is in a position for holding` the wireengaging member.

tl. A cross-arm clamp of the character described, con'iprising a supporting member provided with an extension at each enc; moans for removably clamping the member tothe cross arm; a frame pivotally secured to the extensions so as to be adapted to be swung` to various angular positions relative to the supporting member; means for removably securing a wire-'engaging member to the frame; means connected with the securing means and adapted to engage one ot the extensions se as to lock the Aiframe in any of the angular positions when t-he securing means is in a position for holding the wire-engaging member; and means for operating the securing means.

9. A cross-arm clamp of the character described, comprising a supporting member means for removably clamping the member to the cross arm; a frame having end members pivotally secured to the respective extensions so as to adapt the frame to be swung to various angular positions relative to the supporting member; an inner and an outer jaw mounted so as to be adapted to slide to or from one of the end members and outside thereof; means connected with the outer jaw for sliding the outer jaw vto or from the inner jaw so as to adapt the jaws to hold a wire-engaging member removably therebetween; `dowel means connected with the inner jaw and extending through the last mentioned end mem-` ber and being adapted to extend 'through spaced openings in the extension on the supporting member adjacent to the last mentioned end member for locking" the framein various angular positions relativeto the 'supporting member when the inneraw is slid toward the last mentioned end member; spring means mounted so as to urge the inner away from the last mentioned end member and thus to urge the dowel means vnormally out of locking engagement with the respective extension on thesupporting member; und means for operating the outer jaw. i

l0. A cross-arm clamp of the character described,y comprising a supporting member provided with an extension at each end; means for removably clamping the member to the cross arm; a frame having end members pivotally secured to the respective extensions so as to adapt the frame t-o be swung to various angular positions relative to theI supporting member; an inner and an outer j aw/ mounted so as to be adapted to slidetov or from one 'of the end members and outside thereof; means connected with the outer jaw for sliding the outer aw to or `from the inner jaw so as to adapt the jaws to hold a wireengaging member removably therebetween; dowel means connected with the inner jaw and extending through'the lastl mentioned end member and being adapted to extend through spaced openings in the extension yon the supporting member adjacent to the last mentioned end member for locking the frame in various angular positions relative to the supporting member whenv the' inner jaw is slid toward the last mentioned end member ;r other dowel means connected with the inner jaw and slidably extending through the last mentioned end member so as to adapt the aws to be swung with the frame and to hold the wireengaging member between them in various angular positions ink correspondence with the angular positions of the frame; spring means mounted so as to urge the inner jaw away from the last mentioned end member and thus to urge the lirst mentioned dowel means normally out ofl locking engagement withv the respective extension on the supporting rmember; and means for operating the outer jaw.

1l. A cross-arm clamp of the character de? scribed, comprising a supporting member provided with an extension at each end; means for removably clamping` the member 5 to the cross arm; a traine having end members pivotally secured to the respective extensions so as to adopt the frame to be swung to various angular positions relative to the supporting member; an inner and an outer jaw mounted so as to b e adapted to slide to or from one of the end members and outside thereof; means connected with the outer jaw tor slidingthe outer jaw to or from the inner jaw so as to adapt the j aWs to hold a Wireengaging member removably therebetween; clowel means connected With the inner aW and extending through the last mentioned end member and being adapted to extend through spaoedopeir Y ings inthe extension on the supporting member adjacent to the last mentioned end mem` ber for looking the frame in various anglar positions relatively to the support-ing member when the inner jaw is slid toward the last mentioned end member; spring means monnt- 4 `sliding movements of the jaws.

In testimony whereof I aihxV my signature.

CHESTER o. Coon. f 

